Thursday, April 30, 2015

I’ve often said I have bear blood in me because at the first
cold snap I’m ready to hibernate for winter LOL! Cold, rainy, dreary days make
me want to curl up under a blanket and/or next to a fire and read or sleep. My
energy level & mood sink with the short, dark days.

Spring, however, is that time when the days get longer,
warmer and brighter. Of course, balmy days make me want to curl up like a cat
on a window seal, but like the flowers and trees bursting with energy and new
life, so am I when there are several more hours of sunshine on a daily basis.

Thanks Pam, I feel the same way about winter.

Here's more about Pam

Award-winning
author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou
Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction
as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational
with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier
and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

In His Sight

Blurb: Grade school teacher Carson
Alexander has a gift—a gift that has driven a wedge between him and his family.
Worse, it’s put him at odds with God. Feeling alone and misunderstood, Carson
views God’s gift of prophecy as the worst kind of curse…that is until he meets
Lorelei Conner, landscape artist extraordinaire, and perhaps the one person who
may need Carson and his gift more than anyone ever has.

Lorelei Connor is a mother on the run. Her abusive ex-husband has followed her
all over the country trying to steal their daughter. Distrusting of men and
needing to keep on the move, she’s surprised by her desire to remain close to
Carson Alexander. Through her fear and hesitation, she must learn to rely on
God to guide her—not an easy task when He’s prompting her to trust a man.

Can their relationship withstand the tragedy lurking on the horizon?

Excerpt: Carson
Alexander walked through his classroom and tugged desks into a semi circle
around the dry eraser board. One thing he loved about teaching sixth-grade
English at Stars Crossing Middle School
was that the classes were so small. With no more than fifteen students at a
time he could work closely with each one and give them the attention they
needed and deserved. Another thing he appreciated was the lack of standard or
strict curriculum. As long as the children passed the exams set forth by the
Department of Education, he could teach as he pleased.

So far, his kids excelled, maintaining some of the highest
scores in the entire school. Pride filled his soul and caused his heart to
swell, chest to puff out.

Pride cometh before
the fall.

The Voice echoed in his mind, ricocheted through his soul. He
shrugged off the warning, walked to his desk and picked up the name tags for
each incoming student. He thumbed through the stack, pondered each one and
wondered about the child attached to the name….Jenny & Jerry Smith – twins
or un-related? One name struck him hard, sent unnamed emotion curling through
his system – Laurel Connor.

He hadn’t heard the name Laurel in years and then, used only
as a surname or when referring to the small town in Mississippi from whence he
came. He moved to Stars Crossing, Tennessee
five years ago for two reasons. One, the teaching position and two, the town
though smaller, reminded him of home.

Memories crashed through the floodgates he’d built around
his heart…..the huge two-story house and two-hundred acre farm where he grew
up. His seven siblings, parents who adored him – their eldest son, and the pain
of losing everything he held near and dear to his heart.

Tears threatened. His vision blurred, hands began to shake. Carson swallowed the lump
in his throat, put the stack down, and shoved his hands into the front pockets
of his slacks. Adrenaline pumped through him, caused his pulse to skitter and
jump. Saliva pooled in his mouth. By sheer force he willed his emotions under
control. The bell rang and he turned to greet the children who rushed into the
room. He watched as one-by-one they filed in and took a seat.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

I have had a mixed amount of success when it comes to festivals and fairs. I feel I always do well at the bigger book fairs (LA Times Festival of Books being the largest) in the sense that I get a lot of exposure and experience a decent amount of sales. I never plan to make a profit at these events, but having my books presented for potential readers to find (even if that means they are picking up a bookmark to check the books out later) is a good thing.

What type of items do you take to the fair?

I always have several copies of my books for sale (some of them for display purposes). I also bring bookmarks and posters that I give away for free. Another thing I do is host a free book drawing to help generate interest for the series. With regards to the booth itself, I make sure to bring lots of decor (fabrics in colors that match my theme for the tables, as well as extra fabric for accent colors). I also have a few plush dragons to go along with my Oescienne series (since it features dragons). Another must is a large banner featuring my name and book cover images as well as smaller ones with some readers' reviews.

How do you find out about fairs?

I usually do a Google search for fairs in my area or within a reasonable driving distance from where I live. I don't always look for book fairs and festivals, but other such events that might work well for me (Renaissance Fairs, Comicons, local craft fairs etc.). It is a good idea to try out your local craft fairs that don't necessarily focus on books because then you don't have other book vendors to compete against.

Do fairs increase your sales?

I haven't really seen an obvious increase in sales after attending book fairs, but I still think it's important to attend them. Not only are they a blast to take part in, but it is just one more way to get my name as an author and the books themselves out there in front of potential readers. Plus, it gives me a chance to meet some of my readers in person and talk to them about writing. One more advantage, especially for the really introverted, is that public book events give us the chance to come out of our shells and practice our public relation skills (something every author needs to become good at :)).

Or is it more about just meeting your readers?

I'd say it's half marketing my product and brand and half meeting readers and potential readers. It's nice to make a profit with book sales, but that very rarely happens and that is not my end goal. I hope that meeting readers and potential readers will interest them into looking into my books online (most of my sales are ebook sales and I make sure to have that information on the bookmarks and other items I hand out).

What is the best advice for author who are consider doing fairs?

Don't go halfway. If you get a booth at a fair such as the LA Times Festival of Books, make sure you put in the time and money to make your booth look as professional as possible. I've seen several booths that are nothing more than a plain table covering and a banner with very basic information on it. As a fair or festival attendee, I'm going to walk right by that booth because it has hardly anything to interest me. Get a nice banner made with your name and book covers on it. Invest in some colorful fabric that reflects your style. Have bookmarks made and purchase some neon poster boards to attract attention. It can be a little on the expensive side, but it can be done and it's definitely worth it if you want to attract curious readers. Start with something small at a small fair and learn as you go. Keep note of what works and what you might want to include next time. Every time I attend a festival I think of something new to incorporate into my theme/set up and I try my best to make sure I've included it the next time I go to a fair.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Along California’s central coast there exists a portal to another world, one that is rife with ancient magic and lore. Between the shore of the Pacific Ocean and the foothills of Nipomo, amidst the patchwork farmland of Arroyo Grande and beneath the blanket of coastal fog, there lies a secret known only to those of the Otherworld . . .

Meghan Elam's life may not have been perfect, but at least it was somewhere just outside the realm of normal. Of course, it only gets worse when Cade MacRoich shows up and saves her from a pack of bloodthirsty monsters. And Cade doesn't stop after playing the part of the redeeming hero. He informs Meghan that she is not human, but Faelorehn and immortal. With the help of her mysterious rescuer, Meghan gradually learns who she truly is and that danger waits for her around every corner, danger that only grows when she ventures into the Otherworld. Between a vindictive goddess nipping at her heals and a mother who has been keeping secrets from her, Meghan must learn her new place in a magical and terrifying world, a world she is now very much a part of.

The story begins with Faelorehn, the first book of the Otherworld Trilogy . . .

The Otherworld Trilogy

Book One

I never heard him come after me and even as I climbed the slope and stumbled onto our shaded back lawn, I didn’t look back. It was like the day the gnomes chased me all over again, but this time I was not escaping some horrible little creatures, I was fleeing from an incredibly good-looking guy who could very well understand me completely. I was either saving myself from that serial killer I always imagined lived down in the swamp, or I had finally gone over the deep end . . .

Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.

Cade brings her news of another realm where goblins and gnomes are the norm, a place where whispering spirits exist in the very earth, and a world where Meghan just might find the answers she has always sought.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

On the campus of USC, there was over 900 booths and several stages where authors where being interviewed. They have a kids section and poetry section. There are other type of booths too, such as health and wellness, booth stores, newspapers, leather bags.

When Kathleen Rowland suggested we attend the book fest. I agreed right off, excited by the opportunity to learn more about this avenue of getting the word out about my books.

While at the fair, I met a number of authors. Some had booths, some just there like me to check out the fair.

I know there are lots of different type of fair across the county with state fairs leading the biggest. I was wondering if anyone would like to share their experience of doing book fairs.

What type of success have you had?

What type of items do you take to the fair?

How do you find out about fairs?

Do fairs increase your sales?

Or is it more about just meeting your readers>

What is the best advice for author who are consider doing fairs?

If you'd like to let me know the answers to these question, I'll glad post a blog with your answers as well as a spotlight for your book. Just contact me at tina9561@yahoo.com

Monday, April 20, 2015

Today, I have Linda McLaughlin on my blog. She's telling us why she loves spring and sharing her book with us.

I grew up just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where
spring was much appreciated after a long, hard, cold winter. First the hardy
crocuses would push up from the earth, sometimes with snow still on the ground.
Then came the yellow daffodils and multi-colored tulips, a cheery sight after
the gloom of winter.

My mother loved to garden and I used to help her plant the
spring flowers. One year, a neighbor’s dog came to visit and helped her dig
holes for the tulip bulbs. He was a cute little mutt named Andy. But he didn’t
quite get the point of why she was digging the holes, so the next day, he came
back and dug up all the bulbs! She was so angry at him, but I thought it was
kind of funny.

Spring here in Southern California is a little more subtle.
Our winters really don’t deserve the name, and when the offshore winds blow,
spring weather feels more like August, with temperatures in the upper 80’s or
even into the 90’s. Around here spring flowers include tropical plants like
hibiscus and bird of paradise. Though I kind of miss having four distinct
seasons, I can’t say I miss winter in Pennsylvania. Brrr.

I do wish it would rain, though. Some spring showers would
be very welcome in this fourth year of drought.

Author bio:

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history,
so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves
transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the
journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to
erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team
of Lyn O'Farrell.

In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and
dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life
crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her
husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her
resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning
of courage and the tempting call of desire.

Her destiny...

French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive
threatens what little honor he has left.But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her
freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As
the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite
the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past
misdeeds forever.

Monday, April 13, 2015

THE BILLIONAIRE'S SUITE DREAMS
by Lori Ryan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her Secrets Are All About to Come Out
Pop star PJ Cantrell's life and career are threatened when an angry blackmailer uncovers the
truth about her hidden past. PJ knows it has to be someone close, someone she trusts. She
turns to long-time friend Gabe Sawyer for help, but finds more than she bargained for. As she
quickly discovers she wants more from him than friendship and support, she has to wonder
what he'll think of her when he finally learns the truth.
Gabe Sawyer built a successful chain of luxury hotels by focusing on one thing and one thing
only - his work. And, he's now discovering, that just isn't enough in life. He's loved PJ from afar,
but he's never felt the time was right for a deeper relationship. When he discovers a blackmailer
is threatening her life, everything changes as he struggles to keep her safe and end the threat to
her life and to the career she loves.
EXCERPT:

“What happened, Gabe?” she asked, but it came out more as an accusation. “What aren’t you
He tried a halfhearted ‘it’s nothing’ kind of response, but she put her hands on her hips and
waited him out.
He picked up the envelope and handed her the sheets of paper. “These came to me by courier
while you were sleeping,” he said as she read the sheaf of papers. It’s almost time, Pretty
Pru. It’s almost time, Pretty Pru. It’s almost time, Pretty Pru.
She looked up at Gabe and Zach. “He knows where I am.”
Gabe’s face was grave as he nodded. “Yes, he knows.”
She looked at him and knew he wasn’t telling her everything. “What are you hiding? What
haven’t you told me?”
“This came, too,” he said quietly. She knew what it was the minute she saw it. Matthew’s baby
picture. The one she’d carried with her until it was lost a month ago. The photo of him the day
PJ didn’t hesitate. She dropped the photo back on the counter as though it had bit her, and
ran to her room and began haphazardly shoving her things into her bag. She needed to get
to Matthew. Gabe and Zach followed her. She felt Gabe’s arms come around her, stilling her
hands and stopping her frantic packing.
Zach came around in front of her. “PJ, I’ve got guys headed that way now. They’ll have Matthew
and his family whisked away within the hour, and they’ll get them to a safe place. Somewhere
we can control.”
And Gabe kept talking to her, his breath warm and reassuring as her heart raced in her chest.
“They’ll get to them, Pru. I promise. We’ll keep Matthew safe. I’ll keep you both safe.” But PJ
didn’t care about her own safety anymore. In a heartbeat, she’d give herself to whoever it was
that was doing all of this in exchange for Matthew’s safety.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance with a twist of suspense. Her books range from sweetheart to steamy in heat level (for sweeter,
read the Evers, TX series.)
She lives with an extremely understanding husband, two wonderful children (with another on the way!), two mostly well-behaved dogs, and a lone little cat in Austin, Texas. It's a bit of a zoo, but
she wouldn't change a thing.
Lori published her first novel in April of 2013 and has fallen in love with writing. She is the author of the Sutton Capital Series, the Evers, Texas Series, and will be putting out several novellas with baseball player heroes in Bella Andre's Kindle World, Game For Love, in late 2014.
She loves to connect with her readers. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to her blog

Friday, April 10, 2015

You've finally typed the two most important words: "THE END", but your precious treasure of words needs one final polish before you usher it out on to the cruel world. Welcome to Wicked Dragon Writer Solutions, where you can get two editing beasts for one smoking price!

Between Amber and I, we have 13 hard-won years of word crafting experience, not just in published work, but in editing for other authors.

While we've been doing this without gathering our fees, we decided it was time to put our pens to work for us. We know how vital editors are to Creators of the Written Word, and what's better than one editor? How about two editors putting their eyes to the jewelers loop to examine your precious treasure, and you'll only be out the gold for the price of one.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Blurb - Suzi Calworth has to find the courage to face the man she loves and tell him she’s pregnant with another man’s child.

Clint Malone loves Suzi and regrets driving her away. Yet, can he tell her the truth about himself and risk losing her forever?

Can they both find the strength to reveal their secrets and let love heal their heartache?

Excerpt -

With a quick lunge, Clint caught her wrist and stopped her retreat. “Rumor has it that you’re thinking about not renewing my contract on your land.” His face, at the same level as hers because of his position on the stairs, held a worried frown. “I need to know if it’s true so I can start looking for a new place to run my cattle.”

Anger flashed through Suzi along with disappointment, and she started to shake. What made her think he’d apologize for how things ended between them and want to reconcile?

No, as always his only concern was for his damn cows.

“Well, I’ll tell you the same thing I told Mr. Perkins when he asked me. I haven’t decided, but when I do, I’ll let you both know.” She lifted her hand to dislodge his grip and his hand fell away, only to land at her waist.

He stepped up in front of her and held her close. “God, I’ve missed you.” His gaze burned with a fire that shot heat straight to her core. “Don’t get mad. I need a taste.”

Warm lips settled over hers, soft and inviting, brushing repeatedly against her mouth, demanding entrance until she couldn’t hold out any longer and had to surrender.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Thrilling fantasy, dramatic twists and a stirring love story!
Why did Kaja – a bearer of good fortune – suddenly run out of luck? Shadow creatures lurk
in the dark, one misfortune leads to the next, and her fear of being claimed by the aristocrats
increases by the hour. Furthermore, she is torn between her seaman and the wild wood
wanderer, before whom all warn...
Can she escape her superior opponents? And how will her heart decide?

EXCERPT:

The rotten door of the workshop resisted her attempts to conquer it. It really shouldn’t be such
an effort to close a damned door! Kaja tore at the knob again and held her foot against it. It
was a well-rehearsed ritual between her and the antiquated entrance to the ground floor of her
parents' house – but the house grew more stubborn with every passing day! Or was it because
of her increasing impatience? Finally she managed the deed and left the workshop with the
unfinished business behind.
It was already dark outside – reason enough to declare the day to be over, even if she had only
managed a few candle sculptures today and the freshly stirred ointment gave off a peculiar
The upper floor, where the living area of her family was located, could be reached by a staircase
on the outside of the brick house. The stairs creaked – as usual – but when she entered the
next level, something moved behind her. Who came to them at this late hour? She couldn’t
see anyone. "Is anyone there?" she called hesitantly into the darkness. It was quiet. Still, the
uncomfortable feeling of not being alone lasted.
Quickly she climbed up the stairs and searched for the matching key on the keychain. Just as
she had found it, something hissed behind her. Startled, she dropped the keys. She turned
around and saw ... nothing. However, a very dark, moving nothing – which could only mean one
thing: a shadow creature!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
As a fantasy writer, office manager and optimist Marie Mohn lives with her husband and her son
happily in the heart of Austria.
Born in 1985 as the daughter of two authors, she was naturally fascinated by the magical world
of books since childhood, devouring one book after another, and soon began to write herself.
Creativity and joy interlink closely in her opinion and she loves to enjoy – besides her own life –
invented worlds and adventures.
The German version of “Talisma” has already been successfully published in 2014. It has plenty
of great reviews (average rating at Amazon 4,9/5).
"Talisma" has been published on 25th February 2015. It offers thrilling entertainment with a
sarcastic heroine, new figures in the world of fantasy (wood wanderers, bearers of good fortune
and shadow creatures) and a stirring love story.
Get the book at Amazon: http://bit.ly/talisma_amazonhttp://www.mariemohn.comhttps://www.facebook.com/author.marie.mohnhttps://twitter.com/AuthorMarieMohnhttp://bit.ly/talismatrailer

Marie will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during
the tour and three randomly drawn commenters will each receive an ebook copy of the book

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

THIS HEART OF MINE
by Brenda Novak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4.5 Stars TOP PICK from RT Book Reviews!
First love. Second chance?
As the daughter of a hoarder, Phoenix Fuller had a tough childhood. So when the handsome,
popular Riley Stinson became her boyfriend in high school, she finally felt as though she had
something to be proud of. Phoenix was desperate not to lose him—especially once she found
out she was pregnant. Yes, she might have acted a bit obsessive when he broke up with her.
But she did not run down the girl he started dating next.
Unfortunately, there was no way to prove her innocence. Now, after serving her time in prison,
Phoenix has been released. All she wants to do is return to Whiskey Creek and get to know her
son. But Jacob’s father isn’t exactly welcoming.
Riley doesn’t trust Phoenix, doesn’t want her in Jacob’s life. He is, however, ready to find
someone to love. And he wants a good mother for his son. He has no idea that he’s about to
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

His voice had a rough edge that made her fear he wasn’t taking what she’d said as the apology
she’d intended. “Right,” she said. “Sex and love are two different things, and boys can make
that distinction more easily than girls. That’s all I’m saying. I get that now.”
“I see. What a great thing to learn.”
Was he being sarcastic? She was so confused. “It was a lesson I needed. And learning it the
way I did means I’ll never forget.”
A muscle moved in his cheek.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Did I say something wrong? I was trying to apologize for...for falling
in love with you. Or for holding on to you when I should’ve let go.” None of this was coming
out right. She could tell that much, so she stopped trying to explain and opted for the direct
approach. “Regardless of anything else, know this―I promise I’ll never single you out like that
again or do anything else to make you uncomfortable.”
There. That had to be clear. She smiled up at him, hoping what she’d said would finally meet
with his approval. But there was that damn frown again. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. Don’t worry. You nailed it. And so innocently, too.”
She pressed her fingers to her temples. The pain meds had really kicked in. “I admit my
thoughts are...somewhat disjointed. What, exactly, did I nail?”
“That you can’t trust a guy,” he replied. “That a guy doesn’t know what love is.”
That sounded a bit harsh. Had she actually said those things? “Maybe not all guys,” she
“Okay. Only me,” he said and walked out.
“I was trying to apologize!” she called after him.
He shook his head as he turned back. “For ever loving me?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~